JSO

The Downtown Art Walk returns to Jacksonville’s urban core Feb. 1 with a special theme of peace and love. Downtown Vision Inc. CEO says to not be afraid to take part in the Wednesday night event despite recent shootings.

“Because these crimes intersect with almost all different areas of the criminal justice system including drug trafficking, sexual assault and others,” Nelson said. “And because these crimes affect some of the most vulnerable in our community, adding these dedicated resources is a way that we can help those preyed upon to end this vicious cycle.”

Over the past five years, Jacksonville police have made about 1,000 arrests for buying, selling, or soliciting sex. Eight of every 10 arrests involved female offenders — many for second or third offenses.

Jacksonville police officers said the threat of arrest for prostitution is a deterrent, but other cities are focusing less on jail time.

U.S. officials are saying the 2013 attempted assassination of a Jacksonville federal judge is more significant than an attack on a single person.

Aaron Richardson, 27, was handed the maximum sentence of 343 years in prison Friday morning for the attempted murder and 23 related charges, including stealing the weapon he used to shoot at U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan.

The police shooting death of Vernell Bing Jr. continues to provoke outrage across many neighborhoods in Jacksonville.

The incident has sparked longstanding tensions, at a time when Sheriff Mike Williams says he wants to focus his agency on improving relations in the neighborhoods most angry with his police force.

The 22-year-old Bing, who was unarmed, died on May 22 after crashing a stolen Chevrolet Camaro head-on into a braking patrol car at 53 miles an hour, ending a high-speed chase at a Springfield street corner.

The officer involved, Tyler Landreville, fired five times at Bing after he refused to comply with Landreville’s commands.

Protests and pressure have been constant since Bing’s death, with local organizations calling for an independent review of the incident and a Justice Department investigation.

Ben Frazier is with the local chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, one of the groups calling for more transparency in the case.